Summer is finally upon us. Not sure what to do? Believe me, there is so much out there! If you need a little help, look no further. Here are some ideas of things OVER 100 things to do this summer in the Chicago suburbs. The hard part this year will be deciding how to fit in all the fun! So what are you waiting for – get out and start enjoying the summer!
I’ll be continually adding items so bookmark this page.
**Updated for 2026**
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Sweet Treats & Foodie Fun
Summer is the perfect excuse to indulge in ice cream, donuts, bubble tea, and fun foodie adventures around the Chicago suburbs.
Find a new favorite ice cream place
Try Julie Ann’s Custard (Crystal Lake), Rusty’s Malt Shop (Richmond), Milk House Ice Cream (Pingree Grove), Neon Cow Creamery (Hampshire) or Original Ice Cream Cone (various locations), Scoopy Doo (Huntley). Need more inspiration? Visit Naturally McHenry’s Ice Cream Trail. If FroYo is more your thing, scope out the NEW Menchie’s in Crystal Lake.
Celebrate National Donut Day
Celebrate National Donut Day on June 5th and grab donuts from a new spot. Want to try something different? How about ube donuts at Gurnee Donuts? Psst. They are only made on the weekends. We love Dear Donuts in St. Charles with their cream-filled brioche donuts. Make it even more fun with a self-guided donut crawl!
Try gourmet popcorn
Try to find your favorite new flavor of popcorn. Try different flavors at Pop a Doodle Doo (Woodstock) or Mama Lee’s Gourmet Popcorn. (Elgin, West Dundee)
Sip on bubble tea + craft
My daughter is always on a mission to find the best bubble tea. Without a doubt her favorite is Te’Amo in Algonquin. Not only can she sip on a taro bubble tea, but she can craft at the same time.
Try foods from a different culture
For Filipino food, try Pinoy Street Grill (Arlington Heights). Asian food at Roll N Donuts Cafe never disappoints. (Algonquin)
Discover your favorite Asian foods
Discover your favorite Asian foods at Mitsuwa (Arlington Heights), Tensuke (Elk Grove Village), Joong Boo (Schaumburg), or the new H-Mart (S)chaumburg. Grab something you’ve never tried before. We recently tried the Egg Toast at H-Mart’s food court and it was awesome.
Try dirty soda
Have you tried dirty soda yet? Our favorite dirty soda spot is Distorted Soda and Sandwiches (Crystal Lake) and Eastside Cafe (Dundee).
Buy candy at an old-time candy shop
Buy candy at an old-time candy shop like Around the Corner Candy. (West Dundee)
Try a sour candy challenge
See if you can conquer the Sour Candy Challenge at Candycopia by making your way through six increasingly sour treats, from Tangy to Terrifying! Afterwards, reward yourself with ice cream, nostalgic favorites, or sweets from around the world. (Oak Park or Elmhurst)
Witness how donuts are made
Kids will be fascinated to see how donuts are made at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Call first to see when they have a fresh batch cooking. (Elk Grove Village)
Try a new unique treat
Try a new unique treat – rolled ice cream! You can’t go wrong with any of the flavors at Moo’s (Aurora) or Coco Rolls (Crystal Lake).
Hit up a family-friendly brewery
Some of our favorites include Crystal Lake Brewery (Crystal Lake), Hailstorm Brewery (Tinley Park), and Sew Hop’d (Huntley). If you’re up for a challenge, check those out on the McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail.
Follow your favorite food trucks
Follow the orange truck, or any of your favorite food trucks. Stix and Noodles serves great Filipino street food as they frequent some of my favorite breweries. Waffadilla is another one of my new fav food trucks – waffles meet quesadillas!
Visit a farmers market
Farmers markets are happening again this summer. Time to go pick fresh produce, browse for handmade crafts, and get all the baked goodies. One of our favorites is Woodstock Farmer’s Market on the Historic Square. The Farmers Market + at the Dole Mansion is a great one too! We’re hoping to visit the new West Dundee French Market.
Get ice cream from the ice cream truck
Nothing says summer like ice cream from the ice cream truck!
Travel back to the 80s
From wall-to-wall 80s memorabilia (hello, Skeletor’s Castle!) to retro arcade games, made-to-order subs, hand-dipped Ashby’s Ice Cream, and the colorful Electric Avenue patio, Neon Cow Creamery & Sub Shop is one of the most fun family lunch spots we’ve discovered this summer.
Challenge yourself to the McHenry County Coffee and Tea Trail
Moms (and dads) can have fun too. Challenge yourself to the McHenry County Coffee and Tea trail and bring the kids along!
Outdoor Adventures & Nature Fun
Get outside and enjoy hikes, nature centers, bike rides, waterfalls, and scenic summer adventures.
Walk through a bog
What’s a bog? Learn all about it at the Volo Bog nature center then walk through yourself. While there head to their unstructured nature play space. (Volo)
Hike at a state park
A couple of our favorites in Illinois include Matthiessen State Park and Starved Rock. Here are some easy hikes at Starved Rock.
Bike the Fox River Bike Trail
Explore many of the family-friendly stops like Downtown East Dundee, Downtown Elgin, Gail Borden Public Library, playgrounds, and more!
Find the “secret” waterfall
We love waterfalls but this “secret” waterfall in South Elgin is extra fun!
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
The McHenry County Conservation District has a fun “Find Your Wild” scavenger hunt! Complete challenges, then earn points for stickers. One of our favorite summer traditions that helps you get outdoors!
Try geocaching
Summer = more hikes. Looking for geocaches is a great way to get us motivated.
Try disc golf
Besides a disc, it’s totally free! Try it at Fel-Pro RRR (Cary), Lippold Park (Crystal Lake), or Randall Oaks Park (West Dundee).
Find your favorite sculpture
Find your favorite sculpture at International Sculpture Park (Schaumburg), Mount St. Mary’s Sculpture Park (St. Charles), or Nathan Manilow Park.
Become an Outdoor Explorer
Sign up through McHenry County Conservation District and receive a booklet of fun ideas for the outdoors. Complete 10 of the pages and receive a prize!
Go fishing
Catch and release fishing is available at Twin Lakes. Rent a boat for more fun! (Palatine)
Pretend you’re Bill Murray from Groundhog Day
Take a walking tour around downtown Woodstock where the movie was filmed.
Pedal a paddleboat
Pedal a paddleboat on the lake at Twin Lakes Recreation Area (Palatine) or rent a cool dragon paddleboat at Main Beach (Crystal Lake).
Explore Joliet
Visit two Joliet gems: take a hike at Pilcher Park and then visit the greenhouse. (Joliet)
Take photos at Walton Island Park
Take a stroll and then snap photos at the picturesque Walton Island Park. (Elgin)
Go on an art walk
Elgin has a great art scene! Go on an art walk to find sculptures and murals. (Elgin)
Explore Lake Katherine Nature
Find waterfalls, an easy picturesque mile hike around the Lake, a nature play area, and gardens! You can even kayak the lake. (Palos Heights)
Take a hike and see horses
Hike at Danada then hit up the Sensory Garden in Lisle for a fun horse-themed trip.
Go camping
Jellystone Yogi Bear in Amboy was one of our favorite experiences a few years ago!
Embrace the calm
Visit Soder World Wellness Center where they have an amazing garden with swans, a rock garden, and more.
Love cars?
Check out all the cool cars at a cruise night event. Cruise Night in Cary is every Wednesday during the summer.
Animals & Nature Experiences
From butterflies to alpacas to dinosaurs, these animal experiences are always a hit with families.
Say hi to the dinosaurs
Roar! Say hi to the dinosaurs at Dinosaur Gardens at Volo Auto Museum. Don’t forget mini golf, too! While you’re here, you need to see all the cool cars! (Volo)
Looking for more fun dino activities? Check out this roundup.
Spend the day at Randall Oaks Park
Spend half a day explore Randall Oaks Park where they have a zoo, a playground, and a “hidden playground.” (West Dundee) Make sure to pack a picnic!
Go on a unique animal encounter
How about goat yoga or a chance to walk goats? Or meet and feed alpacas? Here are more animal encounters for you to try.
See elk
Try to find the elk at Busse Woods. Review here. (Elk Grove Village)
Watch butterflies flutter around you
Watch butterflies fly all around you at Crystal Lake Butterfly House at their Nature Center. The renovated Nature Center is fantastic! (Crystal Lake) Another great option is Geneva’s Peck Farm.
Visit a zoo AND an amusement park AND water park
Santa’s Village Azoosment is the best of ALL worlds! (East Dundee)
Visit the Zoo
Visit them at any of the major Chicagoland zoos like Brookfield Zoo this summer for Dinos!, a summer adventure featuring more than 20 animatronic dinosaurs, hands-on activities, photo opportunities, themed food and merchandise and live programs for guests of all ages. (Opens May 22) Mark your calendar for more dino-themed fun like a Dino Dash Fun Run on May 30 or Dinos After Dark on July 11 (These would be so cool to bring!) . If you’re up for a mini road trip, the Milwaukee Zoo is great too.
Go on a tour at Hephzibah Farms
Trust me you’ll fall in love with the animals. $10 per person spent. Read all about our experience here.
Family Fun & Play
Classic summer fun, playground adventures, and activities kids will remember all year long.
Climb the tanks at Cantigny
Climb the tanks then take a stroll around the gardens. Here are more reasons why you NEED to visit Cantigny. (Wheaton)
Tip: Visit on Wednesdays for FREE parking.
Play at a nature play space
Try Wahoo Woods (East Dundee), Chipmunk Woods at Volo Bog (Ingleside), Prairie Patch at Lincoln Marsh (Wheaton), Crab Tree Nature Center (Barrington), Lake Katherine (Palos Heights), Heller Nature Center (Highland Park), Kuechmann Kove (Lake Zurich).
Play retro arcade games
Rainy day? No worries. Play retro arcade games at Underground Retrocade. (West Dundee)
Go classic mini golfing
Tee up at these fun mini golf spots. Some include Lippold Family Golf Center (Crystal Lake) or River View Miniature Golf (St. Charles) or Tinley Junction (Tinley Park).
Try a new kind of mini golfing
We love Puttshack!
Go on a playground crawl
Make it a goal to find the best new playground. Some favorites include Deicke Park, South Ridge Park, Commissioner’s Park in Streamwood, Burning Bush in Mt. Prospect. Find more here.
Read, read, and read
Join your local library’s reading program. Stop into Barnes and Nobles for their “Escape Into Summer Reading” program. Just read 8 books, fill out the log, then return it anytime between (Dates TBD). In return, pick out a free book!
Waterpark fun
Splash around at Raging Waves. (Yorkville)
Try a ninja warrior park
Have the next American Ninja Warrior? The ninja park in Schaumburg or Homer Glen or South Ridge Park in Hoffman are great ones.
Check out Gail Borden Library exhibits
Check out a book and an exhibit at Gail Borden Library. We always look forward to their new museum quality exhibits. The last few years they had Wizard of Oz and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This year they have Earth Matters.
Kids can bowl for FREE
Strike! Kids can bowl for FREE at participating locations. Adults want to bowl too? Upgrade to a family pass (we did!) so you can bowl too!
Listen to a story in a different setting
Many libraries offer story time off-site during the summer.
Immerse yourself in a Minecraft world
Head to Rosemont for a fun Minecraft adventure as your journey through 7 biomes, complete challenges, battling mobs as a family. So much fun!
Enjoy a movie on the cheap at a historic theater.
Classic Cinemas in Woodstock is our go-to theater and offers $2 kids movies on Wednesday mornings. The theater was built in 1927 and has undergone quite a few renovations to make it what it is today. If you’re lucky enough to catch a flick in the main auditorium, it’s beautiful. Psst. Free refills on popcorn, drinks, and ICEEs. Afterwards, go on a Groundhog Day walking tour or have a picnic at the park.
Spend a family day at Yorktown Center
Yorktown Center is so much more than a place to shop! Turn it into a full family day with outdoor play at The Square, arcade games at Dave & Buster’s, claw machines at Crafty Claw, unique shops filled with blind boxes, books, comics, manga, and collectibles, plus plenty of fun food and treats along the way. (Lombard) Read all about our family day at Yorktown Center.
Summer Events & Seasonal Traditions
These are the little summer traditions that make the season feel magical.
Go strawberry picking
Pick your very own luscious strawberries from the vine. For a simple no-frills atmosphere where strawberry picking is the star, try Heider’s Berry Farm. For another laid-back experience, Cody’s Farm is one not to miss. One of our favorite places, Stade’s, will also have strawberry picking this year. Stop by Sun Berry Orchard for a simple strawberry picking experience. For great strawberry picking (as well as THE best strawberry treats) head to Tom’s Farm Market.
Here’s a roundup of our favorite strawberry picking spots.
Go to a minor league baseball game
Batter up! Minor league baseball games are so much fun and some even offer playgrounds for the kids. We love going to the Chicago Dogs games. Check their schedule for promotions like Weiner Wednesday, Happy Hour Friday and Sunday Family Packs. Not only that but they will have 16 fireworks displays, 16 giveaways and 12 themed games include Mother’s Day, Bark at the Ballpark, Star Wars Night, Elvis Night and more. How fun!
Get lost in a sunflower maze
We love walking through the maze and scoping out the beautiful sunflowers. We always have a good time at Von Bergen’s, Goebbert’s, and Richardson’s Adventure Farm.
Catch a flick at the drive-in
As the Chicagoland’s only option, The McHenry Outdoor Theater is one you can’t miss, has been opened since 1955. For a bargain, pack the car on Tuesdays and Thursdays for $14 admission per car. Read about our experience here. Mondays they offer free popcorn. (McHenry)
Visit a festival
Summer means festival season! Visit a festival that you’ve never attended. Had a fun time at Harvard Milk Days! (June)
Art, Trains, and Flowers
The new Shimmering Summer exhibit at Chicago Botanic Gardens adds colorful art installations throughout the gardens, making it feel like a scavenger hunt. While you’re there, don’t miss the model train garden and all the beautiful summer flowers in bloom.
Road Trips & Day Trips
Looking for a quick getaway? These easy day trips make perfect summer adventures.
Celebrate Route 66
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road. Go on the ultimate classic road trip on Route 66 in Illinois. Here are our favorite stops.
Visit a whimsical children’s garden
Step into the whimsical Children’s Garden in Elwood. Totally free and right by Route 66.
Explore Pontiac, Illinois
One of the largest mural shields, swinging bridges, Wally’s, and Filipino food! We had such a fun time exploring this charming town.
Take a quick trip to Wisconsin
Lake Geneva never disappoints or a trip to Kenosha’s downtown and lakefront would be fun.
Explore Elmhurst
Explore a new town. Elmhurst is the place to be this summer. From the cool art installation Umbrella Sky to a fun playground at Wilder Park and an awesome library, you can easily spend the day here.
Visit The Morton Arboretum
See the new exhibit Vivid Creatures then explore their awesome children’s garden. (Lisle)
Take a day trip to Rockford
Fridays are meant for families at Rockford’s Discovery Center Museum. Every Friday until August 2, the museum goes all out with a theme. These extra activities are included with admission! Check out our last year’s fun theme, Pixel Playground.
See a real Viking ship
See a real viking ship! In June, Good Templar Park and its cute tiny cottages are open to the public for Swedish Days, their 100th anniversary. While here, you can peruse the beautiful grounds, look at stugas (cute tiny cottages) and see a viking ship that travelled abroad to be here! Take the tour – you’ll learn a lot!
Shop at McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes
Shopping has never been more fun when shopping at the tiny shops at McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes. When you’re done, take a walk along the Riverwalk and cool down with Rita’s Italian Ice.
Cut your own flowers
One of our favorite places for U-Pick flowers is Dented Gate Farms. (Woodstock)
Make it an epic summer with baseball
One of our favorite traditions? Head to a Schaumburg Boomers game with all-you-can-eat snacks and drinks.
Spend a day at Lords Park
Spend an affordable day out enjoying Lords Park with an updated playground (free), the Elgin Public Museum ($2/pp), and a small zoo (free). (Elgin) Read all about the fun here.
Home Fun
Some days you’ll just want to hang out at home and that’s totally okay!
Tie-dye fun!
Tie dye a t-shirt, socks, or a hat!
Blow bubbles
Make your own bubbles with this quick recipe: 4 cups warm water, 1/2 cup dish soap, 1/2 cup sugar.
Plant a fairy garden
We adore this Fairy Garden Nature Cottage!
Grow your own caterpillar or ladybug
Grow a caterpillar or frog or ladybug! Both kids and adults will be fascinated with “growing” their own butterfly.
